Mark Teixeirahttp://www.wfuv.org/taxonomy/term/5912/0
enState of the Yankees: First Base Responsibilities Now Solely on Overbay’s Shouldershttp://www.wfuv.org/sports/professional-sports/130628/state-yankees-first-base-responsibilities-now-solely-overbay%E2%80%99s-sho
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With All-Star Mark Teixeira done for the season, Overbay will man first base for the Pinstripes until September – and hopefully into October </div>
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<p>The Yankee fan base would have had an undoubtedly hard time grasping the idea during spring training that journeyman Lyle Overbay would play first base for the majority of the games this season.</p>
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<p>It would be a classic classroom scene, where the Yankee fans would play the role of the teacher asking the class a question, and Overbay would play the part of the disliked student who is the only one in the room to raise his hand.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Is there anyone else?&rdquo; the exasperated teacher/fans would ask.&nbsp; &ldquo;Anyone else?!&rdquo;</p>
<p>Fast forward to late June, however, and the Yankees organization and their fans have had a different response to the news that Overbay is changing from a fill in player to an everyday regular due to Mark Teixeira undergoing season ending surgery on his right wrist.</p>
<p>That response? Acceptance.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>
<p>Their change in overall attitude towards the 36 year old first baseman can be completely attributed to what he has not only done on the field but off it as well.</p>
<p>For starters, Overbay has performed way past expectations at the plate so far this season.&nbsp; Entering Thursday&rsquo;s afternoon game against the Rangers, he had 9 homers, 34 RBI&rsquo;s and a .239 batting average.&nbsp; Considering Overbay had 11 home runs combined during the 2011 and 2012 seasons, the Bronx Bombers have to be happy, and shocked, with the 9 long balls he has so far this year.</p>
<p>Not to mention, he has hit 4 go ahead homers for New York this season and 3 of them have come in the 7th inning or later.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Also take into account that Overbay is on pace for an over 70 RBI season.&nbsp; He has not reached that mark since the 2006 season, and has only driven in over 70 RBI&rsquo;s three times in his career (87 in 2004, 72 in 2005, and 92 in 2006).&nbsp;</p>
<p>Are those Mark Teixeira type numbers? No, of course not.&nbsp; Overbay has never hit over 30 homers in a season, let alone 8 times like Teixeira has, or has he never driven in over 100 RBI&rsquo;s, meanwhile Tex has accomplished that feat 8 times as well.&nbsp; In fact, very few first basemen in the league have put up Teixeira-like numbers.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But keep in mind that the now inactive first baseman only drove in 81 RBI&rsquo;s last year, something that Overbay could potentially match during the 2013 campaign.&nbsp; And while Overbay&rsquo;s batting average of .239 is obviously not ideal, neither was Teixeira&rsquo;s the past 3 seasons (.256 in 2010, .248 in 2011, and .251 in 2012).&nbsp;</p>
<p>Off the field, Overbay has handled all of the pressure of playing baseball in New York exceptionally well.&nbsp; He avoids controversy, talks to reporters, and keeps his name out of the tabloids (I&rsquo;m looking at you, A-Rod).&nbsp; Even when Overbay was playing some of his best baseball in years, he was still benched instantly, and almost cut, when Teixeira made his brief comeback.&nbsp; Tex hit 3 homers, drove in 12 runs, but only batted .151 in his first and last 15 games of the season.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The benching never got to Overbay, however.&nbsp; He still got ready to play every day, and he was prepared for any role that the Yankees were going to give him (even if it means playing outfield, which he had never done in his career before this year).</p>
<p>The role the Pinstripes are asking from Overbay now is to be their starting first baseman and to bring them consistent production.&nbsp; Not to be Mark Teixeira or to bring in those type of numbers, but to bring them enough production to remain playoff contenders.</p>
<p>If Overbay continues to produce during the second half of the season like he has for the first half, then fans will look back and may be able to point to him as a major reason why the Yankees were able to make the postseason.</p>
<p><em>&nbsp;Nolan Silbernagel covers MLB (Yankees) for WFUV Sports.</em></p>
Professional SportsBaseballMLBNew York YankeesLyle OverbayMark TeixeiraFri, 28 Jun 2013 12:30:45 +0000Nolan Silbernagel44794 at http://www.wfuv.orgOn Deck: September 4th - Yankees' Lead Shrinks, Mets Are Still The Mets, and NL Central Talkhttp://www.wfuv.org/sports/professional-sports/120904/deck-september-4th-yankees-lead-shrinks-mets-are-still-mets-and-nl
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Are the Yankees a shoe-in for the playoffs? Who takes the NL Central? </div>
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<p>Kenny and Kris debate whether the return of Alex Rodriguez can help the Yankees right the ship. The guys cover improved play from the team in Queens and breakdown the keys to the Chicago- Detroit race.</p>
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<p style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; "><em style="font-size: 16px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; "><a style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(204, 0, 51); text-decoration: none; outline: 0px; " href="http://wfuv.org/ondeck">On Deck</a>&nbsp;is a bi-weekly baseball podcast coming to you every Mond</em><em style="font-size: 16px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; ">ay and Thursday. Join Kenny Ducey and Kris Venezia as they take your calls on the week&rsquo;s most interesting stories and matchups. Have something you&rsquo;d like to say to the hosts? Leave us a message! Call/text 347-903-WFUV, or tweet @WFUVSports, and you might make it onto the show.</em></p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-audio"><legend>Audio</legend><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-sportsaudioupload">
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<div class="filefield-file clear-block"><img class="filefield-icon field-icon-audio-mpeg" alt="audio/mpeg icon" src="http://www.wfuv.org/sites/all/modules/filefield/icons/audio-x-generic.png" /><a href="http://wfuv-web.streamguys.org/WFUV/sports/WFUV/sports/ONDECK93.mp3" type="audio/mpeg; length=6134385">ONDECK93.mp3</a></div> </div>
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Professional SportsBaseballMLBNew York MetsNew York YankeesAlex RodriguezC.C. SabathiaChicago White SoxChris SaleCollin McHughDelmon YoungDetroit TigersEric ChavezJustin VerlanderMark TeixeiraMatt HarveyMiguel CabreraOn DeckPrince FielderR.A. DickeyRobinson CanoTue, 04 Sep 2012 13:18:18 +0000Kenny Ducey29238 at http://www.wfuv.orgA Surprise Ride for Some Young Equestrianshttp://www.wfuv.org/sports/professional-sports/120702/surprise-ride-some-young-equestrians
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The Yankees Head North to Walk Alongside Young Horseback Riders </div>
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<p><img align="top" width="640" height="360" src="/sites/default/files/sports/photos/articles/DSCN3127.JPG" alt="" />While horseback riding is a recreational activity for most people, it serves as a developmental, confidence-building exercise for the children of Flying Manes. Located at the Riverdale Equestrian Center in the North Bronx, trained volunteers teach children ages four and older various equine activities through the forum of therapeutic riding.</p>
<p>Bricklin and Stefanie Dwyer, who founded the Flying Manes program four years ago, wanted to give children with physical, mental, and emotional conditions the opportunity to ride horses. But they felt teaching kids about equine care and behavior would do more than give them something to do each Saturday. They saw a correlation between horseback riding and self-esteem. Modeled after PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) therapeutic riding standards, Flying Manes trains volunteers to teach students about equine care in hopes that the skills they learn in lessons will translate into confidence in their everyday social interactions with family and friends. The Dwyers, along with Flying Manes&rsquo; students and volunteers, received a little riding assistance from the New York Yankees on the first day of HOPE Week.</p>
<p>Flying Manes typically operates on Saturdays from eight to one, but the Dwyers opened up the stable on Monday June 25th and invited students and volunteers in for a special ride. The group arrived at 10:30 and waited in a circle in the outdoor riding arena, blind to what would be coming next. In the north left corner, four horses were led out of the stable by Yankee players Mark Teixeira, Eric Chavez, Jayson Nix, and pitching coach Larry Rothschild. Introductions included pictures with the children and horses as well as a ten thousand dollar check from the Yankees presented to Stefanie by Teixeira. The Yankees then helped the kids into their saddles, grabbed the reigns of the horses, and carefully guided the children as they rode their horses around the outdoor arena.</p>
<p>While the visit from the four Yankees overjoyed the kids, it was the Flying Manes students who taught the team a little bit about horse riding. After admitting he had never ridden a horse, Mark Teixeira talked about learning the different terms used for equine care and riding, such as getting the horse to stop and go by saying &ldquo;walk on&rdquo; and &ldquo;whoa.&rdquo; Once they picked up some tips, the four Yankees took the kids back towards the stable and ate an outdoor lunch. Following their meal, the Flying Manes kids were taken to the stadium for Monday&rsquo;s game against the Cleveland Indians and were allowed to step on the field to meet the entire team.</p>
<p>The Dwyers began the Flying Manes project four years ago with hopes of building confidence in young individuals. The Yankees not only gave these kids a confidence boost that Monday morning, but left a special, life-lasting memory.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-audio"><legend>Audio</legend><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-sportsaudioupload">
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Professional SportsBaseballMLBNew York YankeesBricklin DwyerEric ChavezFlying ManesHope WeekJayson NixLarry RothschildMark TeixeiraStefanie DwyerMon, 02 Jul 2012 15:00:00 +0000Eric Mollo25824 at http://www.wfuv.org